ICC task force may meet Pak PM

The PCB is making efforts to set up a meeting between the ICC's special task force and Pakistan PM in a bid to clear security doubts surrounding the CT.

Written by Press Trust of India

Read Time: 2 mins

Karachi:

The Pakistan Cricket Board is making efforts to set up a meeting between the ICC's special task force and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani in a bid to clear security doubts surrounding the organisation of the Champions Trophy.

Sources in the Pakistan board said discussions were on with the Prime Minister's secretariat for time for the special task force to call on Gillani.

Some teams and players are against playing the tournament in Pakistan as they fear the security situation is not conducive for the eight-nation event.

The ICC executive board constituted the special task force comprising officials of all boards, players associations and security experts at its last meeting.

The task force would be here on August 14 and a senior official of the board confirmed that its schedule was being finalised, including meetings with senior government and security officials.

"We are also trying to arrange a meeting with the Prime Minister who is supportive of having the Champions Trophy in Pakistan," the official said.

He said the purpose behind arranging such a meeting was to directly allay all fears and concerns anyone might have about playing in Pakistan.

"We are happy that Tim May the chief executive of the Federation of International cricketers association is also coming with the task force.

"He is a representative of the players and we want him to hear and see first hand the foolproof arrangements we are making for the event," he said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand which is scheduled to play three one-day games in late August here as preparation for the Champions Trophy, has also told the PCB it would confirm the tour finally by next week.

New Zealand is due to play matches in Faisalabad and Multan from August 24 but the official said they had now asked for time to confirm the tour as their board was meeting next week.

"We want to start making arrangements for the series like finding sponsorship and other logistical details so we asked them when they were coming," the official said.